Duran Duran To Release DVD As Olympic Gig Looms

Not so New Romantics, Duran Duran are to release a concert DVD of their December 2011 show at Manchester’s rather large MEN Arena. A Diamond In The Mind will see releases on DVD, CD, and Blu-Ray, with the truly insane able to pick up a deluxe edition, featuring a 20-page booklet of Simon et al pouting likes it’s 1983. The band are also touring a number of dates over the summer, supporting their 2010 album All You Need Is Now, a trailer for which can be seen below.

The DVD release follows news that the band are to represent England, playing at the opening ceremony of London’s Olympic Games in July. Other British artists such as Blur and John Lydon have been vocally trying to distance themselves from the event, labeling it too corporate and a Disneyfied version of all things British. Such accusations haven’t deterred Duran Duran, a band that always seemed to thrive on the plastic, style over substance image that has so horrified “serious” music critics since their '80s heyday. Lead singer Simon Le Bon declared recently that the show would be one of the band’s “highlights of the last decade.” Other headliners are Snow Patrol (Northern Ireland), Paolo Nutini (Scotland) and Stereophonics (Wales).